Richard Pryor gets to really show off some talent here as an actor in this adaptation of the James Kirkwood novel. It has good moments, but never really satisfies; it works fairly well when it gets serious but its comedy is never that funny. Pryor really is better than the material, which doesn't achieve an effective balance between its drama and comedy. It's not bad as yet another look at the problems of Vietnam vets readjusting to civilian life, in any event.Pryor plays Eddie Keller, who's taken as a prisoner of war during his tour in Vietnam. When he's brought back to the States, he finds having to put up with Army red tape to be intolerable. In addition to being in desperate need of money, he learns from his wife Lisa (Lynne Moody) that she's in a relationship with another man and that his mother Jesse (Olivia Cole) is in a nursing home - an expensive one, to boot, which is about to kick her out if they don't get paid.Eddie makes friends with a well meaning prostitute named Toni (Margot Kidder) and eventually sees a way to deal with the money problem - larceny.This wouldn't be nearly as watchable if it weren't for Pryor, who's touching as well as funny. You feel so bad for him, in fact, that scenes in which Eddie bungles hold-up jobs to be much more pathetic than humorous - which may have been the point. Pryors' scenes with fellow P.o.W. Vinnie (Ray Sharkey) are deeply affecting; the late Sharkey makes the most of his brief screen time. Ronny Cox lends strong support as the colonel who tries to help Eddie upon his return to America. Kidder is appealing and a couple of familiar character players - such as Paul Benjamin, Matt Clark, Anne Haney, Peter Jason, Caren Kaye, Sandy Ward, and the much too briefly utilized Tim Thomerson - can be seen in small roles.Ultimately, while one does want happiness and success for the Eddie character, the feel-good ending is not all that believable. The movie is decent, but it's not memorable in any way.Six out of 10.

After five years as a POW in Hanoi, Army Corporal Richard Pryor is rescued and returns to the States a hero (he makes the evening news after a journalist suggests he bend and kiss the ground). Still, heroes don't linger long in a busy world, and soon Pryor is fighting for his self-worth after the government turns their back on him and his wife admits she's moved on with her life. Serio-comic adaptation of James Kirkwood Jr.'s novel by Kirkwood and Robert Boris makes an uneasy vehicle for the star, who is encouraged to go deeper as an actor yet still retain his naughty persona and signature foul mouth. The character's imprisonment under the Vietcong takes up thirty minutes of screen-time (far too long), while the limply dramatic stuff with the unfaithful Mrs. chews up another ten. Pryor has some strong scenes here and there, but he's relying on externals to get him through. He allows himself to be vulnerable and loving, and this works up to a point, yet the feel-good ending is a cheat (larceny cures all!) and a romance with Beverly Hills hooker Margot Kidder (who appears to have no other clients) is rather unlikely. ** from ****

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS I remember seeing this on video in the mid-late 80s - and still can't get a Region 2 DVD of this one, so make do with a VHS copy made many years ago.Based on James Kirkwood's novel, Pryor does his typical (sometimes foul mouthed) routines as a POW returning to find his life has fallen apart. The early dramatic scenes have quite an impact, actually more so than the comedic scenes.Pryor tries hard with the material and there are some genuinely funny moments (the signing of the confession is one).Ronny Cox offers sturdy support and Margot Kidder plays the 'tart with a heart' who eventually drives off into the sunset with Pryor and $100,000 to boot!I've always had a soft spot for this movie, and was unjustly ignored at the box office. Pryor's screen presence carries this one, but this is still no way a turkey.

In this film, it starts off great and it kinda sizzles after a while, but it is at least put together well by one guy- Richard Pryor. He rises above the material here like no other and actually gives a good dramatic/comedic performance (his best dramatic one besides Blue Collar). While the prison camp scenes are quite intriguing, it becomes a little undone at home. That's my complaint. B-